This was the topic we learnt on Sunday school on the 29th of September 2024. All Word for word.

Memory Verse: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” Romans 8:8

Bible Passage: Romans 7:18-22 ( 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: )

Introduction: “The world” is our external enemy, but we have another enemy which is an internal enemy called “the flesh.” Our enemy, the Devil, has “a stronghold” inside of us that cooperates with him in his battle against us (Matthew 13: 25,  25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.). This stronghold is our sinful nature which the Bible calls “the flesh.” The one controlled by the flesh is also referred to as natural man, carnal man, or old man.

Outlines

1. The “Flesh” Described
2. Victory Through God

1. The “Flesh” Described: “The flesh” is not our body, but the sinful nature that dwells in our body (Romans 8:13, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.) One form of the flesh is ‘self.’ Before we were saved, ‘self’ was on the throne of our hearts (Romans 7:5, 5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.) (Ephesians 2: 2-3, 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.). The moment we received Christ as our Saviour, He came to live in us (Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.). However, ‘self’ did not move out. Not only is it still there, but it wants to continue its rule in our hearts (Galatians 5:17, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.). (Romans 7:18-19, 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.). The Bible tells us three things about the flesh: ‘self’ will never obey God (Romans 8:7, 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.); sin comes from our sinful nature (Mark 7:21-23, 21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.); the flesh is Satan’s “stronghold” for sinning (Galatians 5:19-21, 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.). Here are some of the ways ‘self’ expresses itself in people:
   • Self-pride: Declares himself as first and above all. He expects people to look up to and honour him (Exodus 5:2, 2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.).
   • Self-love: Affirms that the person who should be loved more than anyone else is himself (Luke 12:16-20, 16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?)
   • Self-pity: Believes that he is poor and not treated right. Always complaining and never satisfied (Exodus 16: 2-3, 2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.).
   • Self-righteousness: He is quite satisfied with his goodness and morality (1 Kings 19:14, 14And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.).
   • Self-will: Always wants to have his way. He will do what he wants to do and does not care whether it contradicts God’s will (Judges 14:3,  3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.).
2. Victory Through God: Since no sinner can come into the presence of God, our old sinful life must come to an end for us to become ‘a new person.’ God loves us and through his love, He did three wonderful things for us:
   • He ended our old Self-life and created something entirely new i.e. something that sin cannot touch (Romans 6:6-7, 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin.).
   • He made us a new person in Christ. When Christ rose from the dead, we rose with Him as “new persons” in God’s new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17, 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.).
   • He gave Christ to us as our new Master. In Christ, we live to do the will of His Father (John 5:30, 30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.).

As long as we are in our bodies, we can never get rid of self, but we can avoid being ruled by self. As believers, we can take the following steps to subdue self: Choose to keep Self on the Cross (Galatians 5:24, 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.); make Christ our King ( 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.) and live Christ-life by bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.).

Conclusion: Be in control of your flesh with the help of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh).

Thanks for reading and KEEP THE FAITH STRONG!!!!